Associating received medical imaging data to stored medical imaging data

ABSTRACT

Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable storage media, and computer systems for associating received medical imaging data with stored medical imaging data. Medical imaging data associated with a patient is received from a client device. The medical imaging data includes an image object, one or more data objects related to the image object, and metadata associated with the patient encoded in Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format. The metadata includes personal information about the patient, and time and location at which the DICOM image file was captured. The received metadata is compared with existing metadata associated with multiple existing patients to identify a subset of the existing patients who may be a potential match to the patient. Selection of an existing patient from among the subset is requested. When received, the medical imaging data is associated with the existing patient.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods,computer-readable storage media, and computer systems for managingmedical imaging data.

BACKGROUND

Patients in many health care environments are highly mobile. Thisparticularly applies to patients seen at tertiary care centers. Often amajority of patients seen at tertiary care centers receive their primarycare elsewhere. This often includes prior diagnostic imaging. Review ofavailable prior diagnostic imaging is frequently a focal step in thecare or treatment decision making process. For many diagnoses, carecannot proceed until diagnostic imaging is available for the provider toreview. For these reasons, the timely availability and accessibility ofoutside diagnostic medical imaging can be important to providingefficient care and patient satisfaction.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods,computer-readable storage media, and computer systems for associatingreceived medical imaging data to stored medical imaging data.

In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described herecan be implemented as a computer-implemented method. Medical imagingdata associated with a patient is received from a client device. Themedical imaging data includes an image object, one or more data objectsrelated to the image objects, and metadata associated with the patient.The image object and the one or more data objects can be encoded inDigital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format. Themetadata includes, for example, personal information about the patient,and time and location at which the DICOM image file was captured. Thereceived metadata is compared, by a computer system, with existingmetadata associated with multiple existing patients. The existingmetadata is stored in a database. Based on a result of the comparing, asubset of the multiple existing patients is identified as a potentialmatch with the patient. The subset of the multiple existing patients isprovided, and a selection of an existing patient from among the subsetis requested. Input selecting an existing patient is received. Themedical imaging data including the image object, one or more dataobjects related to the image object and the metadata are provided to beassociated with the existing patient.

This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the followingfeatures. Based on the result of the comparing, it can be determinedthat no existing patient in the database is a potential match with thepatient. In response, a new patient record can be generated using a HL7ADT A04 patient registration message or electronic health record systemspecific web services call. The medical imaging data including the imageobject, one or more data objects related to the image object and themetadata associated with the patient can be provided to be associatedwith the new patient record. The received metadata can include a firstname, a last name, a sex, and a date of birth of the patient. Based onthe result of the comparing, it can be determined that a first name, alast name, a sex, and a date of birth of an existing patient in thedatabase matches the first name, the last name, the sex, and the date ofbirth, respectively, of the patient. In response, the medical imagingdata including the image object, one or more data objects related to theimage object and the metadata can be provided to be associated with theexisting patient by generating either an HL7 ADT A24 link patientinformation message or an HL7 ADT A40 merge patient message.

The database can store multiple Electronic Health Records. Comparing thereceived metadata with the existing metadata can include querying thePACS with a DICOM C-FIND procedure. Receiving the medical imaging datafrom the client device can include receiving the medical imaging data byexecuting a computer software application remotely from the clientdevice without installing the computer software application on theclient device. The medical imaging data can be stored on acomputer-readable storage medium connected to the client device.Executing the computer software application remotely from the clientdevice can include executing the application to search thecomputer-readable storage medium for medical imaging data, andidentifying the medical imaging data in response to searching thecomputer-readable storage medium.

The client device can be connected to a local network accessible tolocal medical imaging systems configured to acquire or store DICOM data.Executing the computer software application remotely from the clientdevice can include presenting an Internet Protocol (IP) address of themedical imaging system, a listening Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)port, and a DICOM Application Entity (AE) title in a display deviceconnected to the medical imaging system,. A connection to the medicalimaging system can be formed using the IP address, the TCP port, and theDICOM AE title. The received medical imaging data can be providedthrough the connection. It can be determined that a user of the clientdevice is an authenticated provider of medical imaging data. The medicalimaging data including the image object, the one or more data objectrelated to the image objects, and the metadata associated with thepatient can be provided without verifying that the received data ismedical imaging data. It can be determined that a user of the clientdevice is not an authenticated provider of medical imaging data. Inresponse, a hold can be placed on the providing of the medical imagingdata until the received data has been verified as medical imaging data.The client device can be requested to provide information describing thereceived data and a reason for providing the received data. Theinformation can be received from the client device. The received datacan be verified as medical imaging data automatically and without userintervention based on the information. The information and at least aportion of the received data can be displayed in a display device.Confirmation that the received data is medical imaging data can berequested.

A request for an imaging study overread can be received from the clientdevice. It can be determined that the patient is an existing patient.Upon determining that the patient is an existing patient, the medicalimaging data can be automatically linked to the existing patient inresponse to receiving the request for the imaging study overread. It canbe determined that the patient is a new patient. Upon determining thatthe patient is a new patient, a new patient record can be generated forthe patient, and the medical imaging data can be automatically linked tothe new patient in response to receiving the request for the imagingstudy overread.

Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described here can beimplemented as a computer-readable medium storing instructionsexecutable by data processing apparatus to perform operations describedhere. A further innovative aspect of the subject matter described herecan be implemented as a system that includes the computer-readablemedium storing the instructions and the data processing apparatus toexecute the stored instructions.

While generally described as computer-implemented software embodied ontangible media that processes and transforms the respective data, someor all of the aspects may be computer-implemented methods or furtherincluded in respective systems or other devices for performing thisdescribed functionality. The details of these and other aspects andimplementations of the present disclosure are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features andadvantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the description anddrawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example computer system for associating receivedmedical imaging data with stored medical imaging data.

FIG. 2 describes an example workflow implemented by a client device forproviding medical imaging data from local media, network accessiblestorage, or via DICOM protocol network transfer to the server computersystem.

FIG. 3 describes an example workflow implemented by a server computersystem for receiving and processing medical imaging data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example process for associating receivedmedical imaging data to stored medical imaging data.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods,computer-readable storage media, and computer systems for associatingreceived medical imaging data to stored medical imaging data. One methodfor transport of prior medical imaging data is on physical media (CD,DVD, flash memory, such as thumb drive or flash memory card, or othersimilar physical media). Outpatients who have been referred from outsidefor tertiary care will frequently bring physical media with priorimaging to their initial office appointment. Perhaps more frequently,outside imaging has to be requested and sent by courier after theinitial office visit. In both cases, review of the imaging is oftendelayed precluding moving forward with care decisions. Review of medicalimaging directly from physical media can be slow and tedious forproviders, particularly when the medical imaging viewer software to viewthe medical imaging data included on the physical media is unfamiliar tothe provider or limited in the features offered (or both). Because ofthe limitations of viewing outside medical imaging directly fromphysical media, most providers prefer to have outside patient medicalimaging loaded onto the enterprise medical imaging archive and reviewsystem or PACS (picture archiving and communication system). This allowsoutside imaging to be viewed across the health care enterprise with asystem with which the providers are quite familiar and adept. Loadingoutside medical imaging data onto the PACS also allows the medicalimaging data to be compared directly to any other medical imaging datawithin the archive.

For the above reasons, medical imaging received on physical media isroutinely sent by clinical providers to be loaded onto the PACS.However, certain limitations of physical media can result in resources(for example, personnel resources) being expended and delays beingintroduced to patient care. Such limitations can include a need to takephysical media to a few dedicated workstations to be loaded to the PACSor to send the physical media via interoffice mail to the radiology fileroom. In some environments, a large quantity of physical media (forexample, in excess of 800 CDs and DVDs) are encountered each week. Insuch environments, this quantity can represent a relatively smallfraction of all outside imaging brought in by patients for review bytheir providers.

A technique that can be implemented to decrease the volume of outsidemedical imaging data transported on physical media can include buildingpersistent dedicated VPN connections between regional institutions.Institutions can then send medical imaging studies on demand without theneed to use physical media. However, dedicated site-to-site VPN's canincur significant costs such as personnel to setup and maintain theconnections and the need for dedicated VPN hardware at each end of a VPNconnection.

Facilitating the transfer and importation of medical imaging data alonedoes not address other segments of the outside imaging workflowincluding order generation and linking or matching with other existingmedical records or medical imaging. Providers often desire internalinterpretations (overread) of submitted outside medical imaging. Thisfacilitates comparison to any existing internal imaging that may exist.Outside interpretations may also not be available with submitted outsideimaging. Requests for outside imaging overreads are submittedindependently from submission of the imaging itself. This leads toadditional manual workflows requiring personnel to manually matchsubmitted imaging with orders for imaging overreads.

This disclosure describes techniques to transport medical imaging datafrom physical media or other sources (for example, medical imagingmodalities; a modality can be any device which acquires or generatesmedical imaging, e.g. CT scanner, MRI scanner, x-ray image processor,ultrasound machine, image processing workstation, etc.) at the point ofcare or remotely onto a central server or PACS. In addition, thisdisclosure describes techniques to evaluate the received data within arules engine and to automate medical imaging data workflow tasks foroutside imaging that previously would have been performed manually inmultiple separate systems. The techniques can be implemented as aclientless (i.e., without requiring installation of a local application)web accessible computer software application that can be launched on aremote client device. The computer software application can offer twodistinct functional modes of operation for transporting medical imaging.

The first functional mode can be implemented to enable providers totransfer medical image data from physical media or locally or networkaccessible storage to a database, such as PACS, over a network.Providers can be, for example, internal providers or remote externalproviders (or both). As described below with reference to the followingfigures, a computer system for managing the medical imaging data canauthenticate a user who wants to provide medical imaging data associatedwith a patient, and can collect additional metadata about the user orthe patient (or both). The computer system can then launch the computersoftware application. The computer system can implement the applicationto request the user to select a local directory or drive that containsthe medical imaging data or the physical media. The computer system canexecute the application to scan the directory tree or physical media andto identify one or more or all medical imaging files, specifically filesconforming to the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine)standard. The computer system can execute the application to transferone or more or all identified DICOM files over an encrypted connectionto a server computer system. The computer system can either directlyforward the files into the PACS or hold the files for verification byfile room personnel prior to transfer to PACS.

The second functional mode can be implemented to enable medical imagingdata to be transferred directly from a medical imaging device (modality)over one or more wired or wireless networks as an alternative to or inaddition to enabling transfer from a directory or physical media. Inthis mode, the computer system can detect that a user, for example, at aremote health organization has accessed a webpage of a website hosted bythe computer system. The computer system can allow for authenticationand collection of metadata through the webpage. Upon launching of theweb application, a client device can function as a medical imagingreceiver (specifically a DICOM storage SCP). A local modality can thensend imaging directly to the computer system that executes a computersoftware application to transfer the imaging via an encrypted session toa server in a similar manner to the first functional mode. Effectivelythis mode creates an ad hoc VPN connection for transferring medicalimaging from one location directly to another location implementing thecomputer system. A connection can be created on demand, and no dedicatedhardware is required.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example computer system 102 for associatingreceived medical imaging data with stored medical imaging data. Thecomputer system 102 can implement the techniques described here formanaging medical imaging data as computer instructions stored on acomputer-readable medium 104 and executed by data processing apparatus106. For example, the computer system 102 can be a server, desktopcomputer system, a laptop computer system, a tablet computer system, asmartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or any other suitablecomputer system. In some implementations, the computer system 102 can beconnected to one or more servers represented by computer system 108 (forexample, directory services server, EHR server, PACS server) over one ormore wired or wireless networks 110 (for example, local enterprisenetwork or the Internet). The computer system 102 can be connected to aclient device 116 over one or more wired or wireless networks 114. Amodality 112 can be connected to client device 116 over one or morewired or wireless networks 115. Networks 114 and networks 115 may or maynot be the same physical network in whole or in part. As described belowwith reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the computer system 102 can implementworkflows to receive medical imaging data from the modality 112 vianetworks 115 through client device 116 or directly from the clientdevice 116 (or both) over the networks 114, implement rules to analyzethe received medical imaging data, and to provide the medical imagingdata to the server computer system 108 over the networks 110, forexample, to be associated with a patient having information stored onthe server computer system 108. In some implementations, the computersystem 102 can be a stand-alone computer system while, in otherimplementations, the computer system 102 can be a component of and beincluded in the server computer system 108 or operate in conjunctionwith one or more servers represented by computer system 108.

FIG. 2 describes an example workflow implemented by a client device 116and optionally a modality 112 for providing medical imaging data to thecomputer system 102. A “user” and a “client device,” as used in thisdisclosure, can represent a computer system or a person using a computersystem. For example, either “user” or “client device” or both can be aperson using a computer system. Alternatively, either “user” or “clientdevice” or both can be the computer system itself. A computer system canbe a server, desktop computer system, a laptop computer system, a tabletcomputer system, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), orany other suitable computer system.

In some implementations, the client device can initiate a session toprovide medical imaging data. For example, the client device can open abi-directional HTTPS encrypted connection to access the computer system102 that hosts a computer software application that the client devicewill execute to provide the medical imaging data. To do so, a user ofthe client device 116 can provide a URL (Uniform Resource Locator)referencing a web page of a website hosted by the computer system 102 ina user interface (for example, an Internet browser). In response, thecomputer system 102 can provide the computer software application to theclient device 116. The computer software application can be a platformindependent application 202. That is, the necessary software componentsneeded on the client device 116 can be dynamically downloaded andexecuted without needing to be persistently installed or persistentlystored locally on the client device 116.

At 204, the client device 116 can display the web page, for example, ina display device. As an initial step, the computer system 102 canauthenticate the client device 116, for example, to determine if theclient device 102 is authorized to provide medical imaging data usingthe computer software application. In some implementations, the computersystem 102 can execute the computer software application to authenticateusers or enable users to proceed without authentication to an internalauthority.

Authentication can be utilized by users internal to the enterprise. Asexternal users may not have an enterprise account to authenticateagainst, the computer system 102 can allow collection ofnon-authenticated user information. In some implementations, thecomputer system 102 can differentiate internal and external users based,at least in part, on the client IP address. At 206, the computer system102 can authenticate users using, for example, metadata found in an LDAPor Active Directory service within the enterprise. If the computersystem 102 can authenticate the user (decision branch “Yes”), then, at208, the computer system 102 can present the client device 116 withadditional data entry options such as the ability to directly initiateand request overreads, merge outside imaging to an existing internalpatient record, obtain outside visit information, or a variety of othercustom processing options. If the computer system 102 cannotauthenticate the user (decision branch “No”), then, at 210, the computersystem 102 can prompt the unauthenticated user for contact informationand the reason for submission of medical imaging.

After authentication and metadata collection, at 212, the client device116 can determine whether the medical imaging data to be transferred tocomputer system 102 is located within a file system accessible to clientdevice 116 (e.g. local directory, local drive, or mapped network share)or will be sent from modality 112 over networks 115 through clientdevice 116 to computer device 102. In some implementations, the computersystem 102 can display one or more messages (for example, prompts) whichthe user can to select to communicate whether the medical imaging datawill be submitted from files or via direct DICOM network transfer.

If client device 116 (decision branch “CD”), then the applicationprovided for execution computer system 102 to client device 116 cansearch one or more computer-readable storage media associated with (forexample, connected to) the client device 116 for medical imaging data.To do so, in some implementations, the application provided by computersystem 102 can access the local file system of the client device 116 toobtain for medical imaging from physical media, a local directory, orfrom a network file system. In some implementations, at 216, thecomputer system 102 can access external file systems to search for andobtain DICOM and non-DICOM data.

For example, the computer system 102 can load a Java applet within theclient device 116's browser in order to access the client device's localfile system. Local file system access from within a browser session canbe supported via a number of methods within the HTML5 standard includingthe “File API”; however, support for HTML5 API's is not universal acrossbrowsers. As modern browsers that support this functionality and supportcalling Java classes directly from Javascript are adopted, Java appletloading will no longer be required.

When the user specifies file based data submission, the computer system102 can execute the computer software application to present a directoryselection dialog box. The user may pick any accessible file systemsincluding a local physical media CT or DVD drive, a directory on a localhard drive, or a directory on a network file system. Upon selection of afile system location, the applet initiates a search from the root of theselected file system directory and identifies medical imaging data files(DICOM) as well as potentially related data files (.JPG, .TIF, .DOC,.TXT, .XML, and .PDF files). Data transfer can be initiated to thecomputer system 102 in the background. Ongoing transfer status isupdated for the user based on the number of files transferred relativeto the number of files located.

If modality 112 will be used to send medical imaging (decision branch“DICOM”), then the computer system 102 can load a Java applet within theclient device 116 browser. When executed, the Java applet starts a DICOMreceive service (specifically DICOM Storage SCP). The user is presentedwith the client device 116's IP address, listening TCP port, and theDICOM Application Entity (AE) title. Similar to the case of file basedsubmission, as modern browsers that support calling of Java classesdirectly from within HTML5 Javascript, the need to run a Java appletwill be mitigated. At 224, after configuring DICOM network destinationusing the IP address, TCP port, and AE title for client device 116, theuser can initiate a DICOM send from the modality 112 or an archiveconnected to the modality 112 (or both) to send the medical imaging datato client device 116. At 222, the client device 116 can start receivingthe medical imaging data. Transfer of received DICOM objects isinitiated immediately in the background to computer device 102. In thismanner, the computer system 102 can receive medical imaging data that iseither stored on a physical media (such as CD or DVD) or file systemsaccessible to client device 116 or from a modality 112 that can accessclient device 116 over networks 115.

When the user specifies DICOM network transfer for importing data, thecomputer system 102 can initialize a Java applet on client device 116.The computer system 116 can then start a DICOM storage SCP (ServiceClass Provider) listener. The IP address of client device 116 runningthe applet, the listening TCP port number, and the configured DICOM AE(Application Entity) title are displayed for the user. In order toreceive DICOM data, the user can initiate a DICOM transfer from modality112. Modality 112 can be any device (e.g. imaging modalities, DICOMarchives including most PACS systems, image processing workstations,etc.) that supports sending DICOM data via the DICOM application layerprotocol (specifically, the device must support the DICOM storage SCUrole). Transfer of received objects to the computer system 102 server isinitiated immediately in the background as data is received by clientdevice 116.

During receipt of DICOM data, at 218, the client device 116 can extractmetadata including patient information, exam information, and othersuitable information. In some implementations, the client device 116 canextract metadata from DICOM data during the scanning phase in the caseof file-based data submission or during receipt of DICOM data in thecase of network-based DICOM data. In some implementations, extraction ofmetadata is performed on computer system 102. Metadata extracted fromidentified DICOM medical imaging files may include items such as patientname (DICOM tag 0010,0010), patient medical record number (DICOM tag0010,0020), patient birthdate (DICOM tag 0010,0030), patient sex (DICOMtag (0010,0040), modality (DICOM tag 0008,0060), study description(DICOM tag 0008,1030), institution name (DICOM tag 0008,0080), studydate (DICOM tag 0008,0020), study time (DICOM tag 0008,0030), andreferring physicians name (DICOM tag 0008,0090). If extracted on clientdevice 116, the extracted metadata is communicated to the computersystem 102.

At 220, the computer system 102 can determine whether added patient datais to be acquired via HL7 Clinical Document Architecture (CDA). If yes(decision branch “Yes”), then, at 228, the client device 116 can obtainHL7 Continuity of Care Document (CCD) record from the EHR. The HL7Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) standard provides for interchangeof clinical medical documents. The HL7 CDA is mandated by Meaningful Use2 to enable exchange of health care data including imaging reports. TheContinuity of Care Document (CCD) is a specific CDA patient summarydocument for interorganizational exchange. Metadata extraction fromimaging reports or CCD's available as XML files can be supported. At226, standard HL7 messaging semantics can be supported by including HL7functionality into the applet running on client device 116 to allow forquery and receipt of HL7 CDA reports and CCD's based utilizing patientand exam identifiers extracted from DICOM (patient ID, date of birth,accession number, etc.).

If no (decision branch “NO”), then, at 230, the computer system 102 cancreate a data package and verify user data. The computer system 102 canformat the metadata extracted from the identified files or networkreceived objects and display the metadata on client device 116 for theuser. This provides an opportunity for the user to view a list ofmedical imaging studies present within the identified files or vianetwork transfer. All data being transferred (whether identified fromfiles or received via network transfer) and all associated metadata istreated as a data package. If an authenticated user indicated thatoverreads were being requested, the specific exam(s) (if multiple examswere found) to be interpreted can be indicated by the user. The user onclient device 116 has the option to finalize the submission.

At 232, it can be checked whether the data to be sent is correct. If thedata to be sent is correct (decision branch “Yes”), then the medicalimaging data and the metadata are released for subsequent processing oncomputer system 102. In some implementations, user verification mayoccur asynchronously with ongoing data transfer. When the user finalizesthe submission, the data package is released for subsequent steps oncomputer system 102. If data to be sent is not correct (decision branch“No”), then the client device 116 user cancels submission, and the datapackage is destroyed. Any ongoing data transfer if present is cancelled.Limited metadata may be kept on the computer system 102 to facilitatesupport and troubleshooting, but all data files are deleted.

FIG. 3 describes an example workflow of additional processingimplemented by computer system 102 for receiving and processing medicalimaging data. At 302, the computer system 102 receives data and metadatafrom client device 116. Credentials passed from client device 116described above in paragraph 0022 are used to authenticate the clientdevice 116 user with server computer system 108. To do so, at 304, acall is made via LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) or otherauthentication protocol to authenticate the user against an enterpriseauthority. The enterprise authority can be Microsoft Active Directorybased or another directory services that utilizes LDAP forauthentication requests. When a user is authenticated against adirectory, additional information about the user can be obtained fromthe directory service about the user including group membership status,department, role, and job title. Users who have the authority to placemedical imaging orders can be identified in this way. This allows theweb application to tailor the options presented to the user based on thecredentials the user supplied.

At 306, the server computer system 102 can receive medical imaging dataand metadata from the client device 116 or the modality 112. In thisstep the data package contents are prepared for rules engine evaluation.Metadata entered by the remote client device is mapped to appropriatevariables for the subsequent evaluation. Binary DICOM files areinternally converted to an XML representation to facilitate processingin the rules engine. An example of a DICOM image file in this XML formatis provided below (binary pixel data is not shown):

<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“UTF-8” standalone=“no”?> <dicom>  <tag00020000 len=“4” tag=“00020000” vr=“UL”>182</tag00020000>  <tag00020001 len=“2” tag=“00020001” vr=“OB”>00\01</tag00020001>  <tag00020002 len=“26” tag=“00020002”vr=“UI”>1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.2</tag00020002>   <tag00020003 len=“54”tag=“00020003”    vr=“UI”>1.2.840.113619.2.55.3.1753275364.5848.1173415047.614.3</tag00020003>  <tag00020010 len=“18” tag=“00020010”vr=“UI”>1.2.840.10008.1.2</tag00020010>   <tag00020012 len=“16”tag=“00020012” vr=“UI”>1.2.40.0.13.1.1</tag00020012>   <tag00020013len=“14” tag=“00020013” vr=“SH”>dcm4che-1.4.27</tag00020013>  <tag00080005 len=“10” tag=“00080005” vr=“CS”>ISO_IR 100</tag00080005>  <tag00080016 len=“26” tag=“00080016”vr=“UI”>1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.2</tag00080016>   <tag00080018 len=“54”tag=“00080018”    vr=“UI”>1.2.840.113619.2.55.3.1753275364.5848.1173415047.614.3</tag00080018>  <tag00080020 len=“8” tag=“00080020” vr=“DA”>20070309</tag00080020>  <tag00080030 len=“14” tag=“00080030”vr=“TM”>150539.000000</tag00080030>   <tag00080050 len=“0”tag=“00080050” vr=“SH”/>   <tag00080060 len=“2” tag=“00080060”vr=“CS”>CT</tag00080060>   <tag00080090 len=“2” tag=“00080090” vr=“PN”/>  <tag0008103E len=“20” tag=“0008103E” vr=“LO”>Smart Score 0.35sec</tag0008103E>   <tag00100010 len=“10” tag=“00100010”vr=“PN”>Anonymous</tag00100010>   <tag00100020 len=“8” tag=“00100020”vr=“LO”>1717319</tag00100020>   <tag00100030 len=“8” tag=“00100030”vr=“DA”>19490505</tag00100030>   <tag00100040 len=“2” tag=“00100040”vr=“CS”>M</tag00100040>   <tag00101010 len=“4” tag=“00101010”vr=“AS”>057Y</tag00101010>   <tag00180022 len=“10” tag=“00180022”vr=“CS”>CINE MODE</tag00180022>   <tag00180050 len=“8” tag=“00180050”vr=“DS”>2.500000</tag00180050>   <tag00180060 len=“4” tag=“00180060”vr=“DS”>120</tag00180060>   <tag00180090 len=“10” tag=“00180090”vr=“DS”>500.000000</tag00180090>   <tag00181020 len=“8” tag=“00181020”vr=“LO”>06MW29.7</tag00181020>   <tag00181030 len=“62” tag=“00181030”vr=“LO”>5.14 SnapShot Segment 0.625 mm 30-75 BPM     − LARGE + smartscore</tag00181030>   <tag00181100 len=“10” tag=“00181100”vr=“DS”>250.000000</tag00181100>   <tag00181110 len=“10” tag=“00181110”vr=“DS”>949.075012</tag00181110>   <tag00181111 len=“10” tag=“00181111”vr=“DS”>541.000000</tag00181111>   <tag00181120 len=“8” tag=“00181120”vr=“DS”>0.000000</tag00181120>   <tag00181130 len=“10” tag=“00181130”vr=“DS”>161.209000</tag00181130>   <tag00181140 len=“2” tag=“00181140”vr=“CS”>CW</tag00181140>   <tag00181150 len=“4” tag=“00181150”vr=“IS”>227</tag00181150>   <tag00181151 len=“4” tag=“00181151”vr=“IS”>400</tag00181151>   <tag00181152 len=“2” tag=“00181152”vr=“IS”>11</tag00181152>   <tag00181160 len=“12” tag=“00181160”vr=“SH”>BODY FILTER</tag00181160>   <tag00181170 len=“6” tag=“00181170”vr=“IS”>48000</tag00181170>   <tag00181190 len=“8” tag=“00181190”vr=“DS”>1.200000</tag00181190>   <tag00181210 len=“8” tag=“00181210”vr=“SH”>STANDARD</tag00181210>   <tag00185100 len=“4” tag=“00185100”vr=“CS”>FFS</tag00185100>   <tag0020000D len=“52” tag=“0020000D”    vr=“UI”>1.2.840.113619.2.55.3.1753275364.5848.1173415047.607</tag0020000D>  <tag0020000E len=“52” tag=“0020000E”    vr=“UI”>1.2.840.113619.2.55.3.1753275364.5848.1173415047.613</tag0020000E>  <tag00200010 len=“6” tag=“00200010” vr=“SH”>10651</tag00200010>  <tag00200011 len=“2” tag=“00200011” vr=“IS”>2</tag00200011>  <tag00200012 len=“2” tag=“00200012” vr=“IS”>1</tag00200012>  <tag00200013 len=“2” tag=“00200013” vr=“IS”>3</tag00200013>  <tag00200032 len=“34” tag=“00200032” vr=“DS”>−88.300003\−125.000000\−    66.750000</tag00200032>   <tag00200037 len=“54” tag=“00200037”    vr=“DS”>1.000000\0.000000\0.000000\0.000000\1.000000\0.000000</tag00200037>  <tag00200052 len=“62” tag=“00200052”    vr=“UI”>1.2.840.113619.2.55.3.1753275364.5848.1173415047.608.21129.0.1</tag00200052>  <tag00201040 len=“2” tag=“00201040” vr=“LO”>SN</tag00201040>  <tag00201041 len=“10” tag=“00201041” vr=“DS”>−66.750000</tag00201041>  <tag00280002 len=“2” tag=“00280002” vr=“US”>1</tag00280002>  <tag00280004 len=“12” tag=“00280004” vr=“CS”>MONOCHROME2</tag00280004>  <tag00280010 len=“2” tag=“00280010” vr=“US”>512</tag00280010>  <tag00280011 len=“2” tag=“00280011” vr=“US”>512</tag00280011>  <tag00280030 len=“18” tag=“00280030”vr=“DS”>0.488281\0.488281</tag00280030>   <tag00280100 len=“2”tag=“00280100” vr=“US”>16</tag00280100>   <tag00280101 len=“2”tag=“00280101” vr=“US”>16</tag00280101>   <tag00280102 len=“2”tag=“00280102” vr=“US”>15</tag00280102>   <tag00280103 len=“2”tag=“00280103” vr=“US”>1</tag00280103>   <tag00280120 len=“2”tag=“00280120” vr=“US”>63536</tag00280120>   <tag00281050 len=“2”tag=“00281050” vr=“DS”>40</tag00281050>   <tag00281051 len=“4”tag=“00281051” vr=“DS”>400</tag00281051>   <tag00281052 len=“6”tag=“00281052” vr=“DS”>−1024</tag00281052>   <tag00281053 len=“2”tag=“00281053” vr=“DS”>1</tag00281053>   <tag00281054 len=“2”tag=“00281054” vr=“LO”>HU</tag00281054>   <tag00282110 len=“2”tag=“00282110” vr=“CS”>00</tag00282110> </dicom>

At 308, a rules engine can add metadata to the data package. Thecomputer system 102 can implement the rules engine as a computersoftware application including computer instructions stored on acomputer-readable medium and executable by data processing apparatus.The computer system 102 can process the received data and metadata toautomate manual procedure steps and perform functions not availableelsewhere within a single application. The tasks performed by the rulesengine application fall into several broad categories including: datasetverification, patient identification, data and metadata conversion toconsumable health care data formats (for example, DICOM and HL7),notification, auditing, and order generation.

At 312, the computer system 102 can execute the rules engine todetermine if data hold is required. If data hold is required (decisionbranch “Yes”), then, at 314, the computer system 102 can hold submitteddata sets for verification. In some implementations, the computer system102 can hold the submitted datasets for verification prior to sendingthe datasets to downstream systems based on configurable preferences.Datasets submitted by internal authenticated users would generally beconsidered trusted and configured to be processed immediately.Conversely, datasets submitted by non-authenticated users from outsidethe institution would generally be held prior to being released todownstream systems (e.g. prior to uploading DICOM objects to PACS). Ifno dataset hold is required by the configured rules (decision branch“No”), then the dataset is released for downstream processing andsubsequently to downstream systems.

At 316, the computer system 102 can determine if the medical imagingdata and metadata received from the client device 116 or the modality112 includes DICOM data only. If the computer system 102 determines thatthe medical imaging data includes DICOM data only (decision branch“Yes”), then, at 326, the computer system 102 can determine ifpreprocessing is required. If the computer system 102 determines thatthe medical imaging data and metadata include more than DICOM dataalone, then, at 324, the computer system 102 can extract and forward theDICOM data to determining if pre-processing is required. At 330, thecomputer system 102 can extract the non-DICOM data (for example, data ina .JPG, .PDF, .DOC format, or other non-DICOM formats). At 334, thecomputer system 102 can determine if the extracted data needs to beconverted into DICOM format. If yes, then, at 332, the computer system102 can convert the data into DICOM format. If no, then, at 336, thecomputer system 102 can forward the HL7 data to determine whether thedata needs to be pre-processed.

A number of factors at 326 determine whether pre-processing of thereceived data is needed prior to forwarding data on to downstreamsystems. Additional pre-processing steps are required if the receiveddata must be modified to conform to an existing patient record or tomatch an imaging order (as in the case of a requested overread).Pre-processing includes modification of any DICOM tags at 338 and 348and any messaging to downstream systems (for example PACS, EHR, or voicerecognition dictation systems) at 340 and 342 to ensure that thereceived data will be correctly like to the patient's record.

Outside imaging is often submitted for patients who have already beenregistered within the local EHR and may also have local medical imagingavailable within PACS or a VNA. Imaging submitted from outsideinstitutions will include patient identifiers (e.g. MRN) from theinstitution where the imaging was acquired. Matching outside imaging toexisting patients is nearly always a manual process. With manual workflows, personnel must manually identify potential patient matches andthen manually link outside imaging to an existing patient record ormanually merge a patient record containing outside imaging to aninternal record. If a matching internal patient record is not present,personnel must manually perform steps to register that patient in thelocal EHR so that an order can be generated for an outside imaging studyinterpretation.

The computer system 102 can implement the computer software applicationto assist with automating this process by querying internal data storesto find potential patient matches. At 310 the computer system 102 canquery EHR's with an HL7 ADR A19 patient query message or via vendorspecific web services. Most PACS or VNA's can be queried with a DICOMC-FIND procedure. The computer system 102 can present patients withmultiple matching identifiers for verification, or if sufficient patientidentifier matches are present, the computer system 102 can definitivelymatch outside imaging to an existing local patient record. For example,a patient may be considered an exact match if the patient first name,last name, middle initial, sex, and date of birth match.

If no potentially matching internal patient records are identified,patient registration would be required as a pre-processing step at 326.To accomplish this, at 342 the computer system 102 can generate apatient registration event message (HL7 ADT A04 patient registrationmessage or web services registration event) to the EHR. An example HL7ADT A04 message is shown below:

MSH|{circumflex over( )}~\&|RIS|WB0|MITRAB||201003010102||ADT{circumflex over( )}A04|45804|P|2.3.1| EVN|A04|201003010102||||201003010102|PID|||9999999|{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}|LASTNAME{circumflex over( )}FIRSTNAME{circumflex over ( )}MI{circumflex over ( )}{circumflexover ( )}||19810508|F||U|ROAD1{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}MADISON{circumflex over ( )}WI{circumflex over ( )}88888{circumflexover ( )}USA||    6085559999|||U|||| PV1||O|OUTPATIENT   CLINIC||||{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}|{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}|{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}|OUT|||||||000000{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}||80945768||||||||||||||||||||WB0||   ||||||||||V| AL1|1|Dr|{circumflex over ( )}SULFADRUGS|To|HIVES/ITCHIN|20091203|

If instead a patient match is identified, the computer system 102 canautomatically link the patient to an existing patient record bygenerating at 342 either an HL7 ADT A24 link patient information messageor an HL7 ADT A40 merge patient message.

Within existing manual workflows, outside image dataset submission andorder placement for an overread are decoupled. Order requests are placedwithin the EHR and outside imaging studies are uploaded to PACS or aVNA. Both of these steps must be initiated independently by the providersubmitting images. A person (generally within the institution's medicalimaging file room) must manually find the outside imaging study withinthe PACS and both link the dataset to the order and link or merge thedataset to an internal patient record.

The computer system 102 can execute the computer software application toautomate the process described above as a pre-processing step determinedat 326. In some implementations, if an outside imaging study overread isrequested at the time of client device authentication, the computersystem 102 can prompt the authenticated user to input an existinginternal medical record number for the patient or confirm that thepatient needs to be registered. The computer system 102 can then eitherautomatically link the submitted imaging study to an existing patient orregister the patient by implementing the techniques described above. Inboth cases, the computer system 102 can update the appropriate DICOMtags. To do so, the computer system 102 can generate an HL7 ORM O01order message at 342 and send the generated message to the appropriatedownstream systems which may include the EHR, PACS, and a voicerecognition dictation system. An example HL7 ORM O01 message is shownbelow:

MSH|{circumflex over( )}~\&|RIS|WB0|MITRAB||201003010102||ORM{circumflex over( )}O01|45817|P|2.3.1| EVN|O01|201003010102||||201003010102|PID|||9999999|{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}|LASTNAME{circumflex over( )}FIRSTNAME{circumflex over ( )}MI{circumflex over ( )}{circumflexover ( )}||19810508|F||U|ROAD1{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}MADISON{circumflex over ( )}WI{circumflex over ( )}88888{circumflexover ( )}USA||    6085559999|||U|||| PV1||O|OUTPATIENT   CLINIC||||{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}|{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}|{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}|OUT|||||||000000{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}||80945768||||||||||||||||||||WB0||   ||||||||||V| AL1|1|Dr|{circumflex over ( )}SULFADRUGS|To|HIVES/ITCHIN|20091203| ORC|NW|58857980{circumflex over( )}001|11111|O90027|NW||1{circumflex over ( )}once{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}201003010102{circumflex over ( )}{circumflexover ( )}R{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}ROUTINE|||SECLAR||000000{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}    {circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}||||{circumflex over ( )}|OBR||58857980{circumflex over ( )}001|11111|72132{circumflex over ( )}CTHEAD{circumflex over ( )}CPT||||||SECLAR|||||72132{circumflex over( )}CT    HEAD{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}|000000{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}||11111|{circumflex over ( )}CT|11111||||CT||    |l{circumflex over( )}once{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over( )}201003010102{circumflex over ( )}{circumflex over ( )}R{circumflexover ( )}{circumflex over ( )}ROUTINE||||||||ZDS|1.2.840.113696.827006.500.8952.20100105135829{circumflex over( )}SMS{circumflex over ( )}Applicatron{circumflex over ( )}DICOM|ZOR|1||LUMBAGO||||testing purposes||||||||||||||/|EAST CLINIC SPINENEUROSURG|

The order fields are populated from several combined sources. Patientidentifiers (e.g. MRN) are taken from the results of queries to the EHRor PACS (in the case of existing matching patient records) or afterregistering the patient after sending an HL7 ADT A04 patientregistration message. Most required HL7 ORM O01 fields are takendirectly from the collected metadata and the metadata extracted from thesubmitted DICOM objects. Any required unique identifiers such asaccession numbers are automatically generated.

Once all required pre-processing has occurred or if the computer system102 determines that pre-processing is not required (decision branch“No”), then, at 322, the computer system 102 can send the DICOM data toPACS/VNA.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example process 400 for associating receivedmedical imaging data to stored medical imaging data. The process 400 canbe implemented as computer instructions stored on a computer-readablemedium and executable by data processing apparatus. For example, theprocess 400 can be implemented by the computer system 102. At 402,medical imaging data associated with a patient can be received from aclient device 116. The medical imaging data can include an image object,one or more data objects related to the image objects, and metadataassociated with the patient. The image object and the one or more dataobjects are encoded in Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine(DICOM) format. The metadata includes personal information about thepatient, and time and location at which the DICOM image file wascaptured. Some of the metadata can be provided by a user of the clientdevice and can be received separately from the DICOM data. Some of themetadata can be received as part of the DICOM data and can be extracted.

At 404, the received metadata can be compared with existing metadataassociated with multiple existing patients. The existing metadata isstored in a database. Based on a result of the comparing, at 406, asubset of the multiple existing patients can be identified as apotential match with the patient. At 408, the subset can be provided,for example, for display on a display device connected to the computersystem 102 or the server computer system 108. A selection of an existingpatient from among the subset can be requested. At 410, input selectingan existing patient can be received. At 412, the medical imaging dataincluding the image object, one or more data objects related to theimage objects and the metadata can be provided to be associated with theexisting patient.

In some situations, it can be determined that no existing patient in thedatabase is a potential match with the patient based on the result ofthe comparing. In response, a new patient record can be generated usinga HL7 ADT A04 patient registration message or electronic health recordsystem specific web services call. The medical imaging data includingthe image object, one or more data objects related to the image objectsand the metadata can be provided to be associated with the new patientrecord.

The metadata can include a first name, a last name, a sex, and a date ofbirth of the patient. Based on the result of the comparing, it can bedetermined that a first name, a last name, a sex, and a date of birth ofan existing patient in the database matches the first name, the lastname, the sex, and the date of birth, respectively, of the patient. Inresponse, the medical imaging data including the image object, one ormore data objects related to the image objects and the metadata can beprovided to be associated with the existing patient by generating eitheran HL7 ADT A24 link patient information message or an HL7 ADT A40 mergepatient message.

Implementations of the subject matter and the operations described inthis disclosure can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, orin computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structuresdisclosed in this disclosure and their structural equivalents, or incombinations of one or more of them. Implementations of the subjectmatter described in this disclosure can be implemented as one or morecomputer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer programinstructions, encoded on computer storage medium for execution by, or tocontrol the operation of, data processing apparatus. Alternatively or inaddition, the program instructions can be encoded on anartificially-generated propagated signal, for example, amachine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal that isgenerated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiverapparatus for execution by a data processing apparatus. A computerstorage medium, for example, the computer-readable medium, can be, or beincluded in, a computer-readable storage device, a computer-readablestorage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, ora combination of one or more of them. Moreover, while a computer storagemedium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium can be asource or destination of computer program instructions encoded in anartificially-generated propagated signal. The computer storage mediumcan also be, or be included in, one or more separate physical and/ornon-transitory components or media (for example, multiple CDs, disks, orother storage devices).

In some implementations, the operations described in this disclosure canbe implemented as a hosted service provided on a server in a cloudcomputing network. For example, the computer-readable storage media canbe logically grouped and accessible within a cloud computing network.Servers within the cloud computing network can include a cloud computingplatform for providing cloud-based services. The terms “cloud,” “cloudcomputing,” and “cloud-based” may be used interchangeably as appropriatewithout departing from the scope of this disclosure. Cloud-basedservices can be hosted services that are provided by servers anddelivered across a network to a client platform to enhance, supplement,or replace applications executed locally on a client computer. Thesystem can use cloud-based services to quickly receive softwareupgrades, applications, and other resources that would otherwise requirea lengthy period of time before the resources can be delivered to thesystem.

The operations described in this disclosure can be implemented asoperations performed by a data processing apparatus on data stored onone or more computer-readable storage devices or received from othersources. The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all kinds ofapparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by wayof example a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, ormultiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing. The apparatus caninclude special purpose logic circuitry, for example, an FPGA (fieldprogrammable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integratedcircuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition to hardware, codethat creates an execution environment for the computer program inquestion, for example, code that constitutes processor firmware, aprotocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, across-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combinationof one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment canrealize various different computing model infrastructures, such as webservices, distributed computing and grid computing infrastructures.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, softwareapplication, script, or code) can be written in any form of programminglanguage, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative orprocedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as astand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, orother unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computerprogram may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. Aprogram can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programsor data (for example, one or more scripts stored in a markup languagedocument), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or inmultiple coordinated files (for example, files that store one or moremodules, sub-programs, or portions of code). A computer program can bedeployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers thatare located at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this disclosure can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform actions by operating on input data andgenerating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performedby, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, for example, an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or anASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory ora random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for performing actions in accordance with instructions andone or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally,a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive datafrom or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices forstoring data, for example, magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or opticaldisks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, acomputer can be embedded in another device, for example, a mobiletelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or videoplayer, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or aportable storage device (for example, a universal serial bus (USB) flashdrive), to name just a few. Devices suitable for storing computerprogram instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory,media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductormemory devices, for example, EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices;magnetic disks, for example, internal hard disks or removable disks;magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor andthe memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purposelogic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, implementations of the subjectmatter described in this disclosure can be implemented on a computerhaving a display device, for example, a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD(liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to theuser, and a keyboard, a pointing device, for example, a mouse or atrackball, or a microphone and speaker (or combinations of them) bywhich the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devicescan be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example,feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, forexample, visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; andinput from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic,speech, or tactile input. In addition, a computer can interact with auser by sending documents to and receiving documents from a device thatis used by the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browseron a user's client device in response to requests received from the webbrowser.

Implementations of the subject matter described in this disclosure canbe implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component,for example, as a data server, or that includes a middleware component,for example, an application server, or that includes a front-endcomponent, for example, a client computer having a graphical userinterface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with animplementation of the subject matter described in this disclosure, orany combination of one or more such back-end, middleware, or front-endcomponents. The components of the system can be interconnected by anyform or medium of digital data communication, for example, acommunication network. Examples of communication networks include alocal area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), aninter-network (for example, the Internet), and peer-to-peer networks(for example, ad hoc peer-to-peer networks).

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other. In someimplementations, a server transmits data (for example, an HTML page) toa client device (for example, for purposes of displaying data to andreceiving user input from a user interacting with the client device).Data generated at the client device (for example, a result of the userinteraction) can be received from the client device at the server.

While this disclosure contains many specific implementation details,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of anyimplementations or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions offeatures specific to particular implementations of particularimplementations. Certain features that are described in this disclosurein the context of separate implementations can also be implemented incombination in a single implementation. Conversely, various featuresthat are described in the context of a single implementation can also beimplemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitablesubcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above asacting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, oneor more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excisedfrom the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various systemcomponents in the implementations described above should not beunderstood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and itshould be understood that the described program components and systemscan generally be integrated together in a single software product orpackaged into multiple software products.

Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have beendescribed. Other implementations are within the scope of the followingclaims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can beperformed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. Inaddition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do notnecessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, toachieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking andparallel processing may be advantageous.

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, from a clientdevice, medical imaging data associated with a patient, wherein themedical imaging data includes an image object, one or more data objectsrelated to the image object, and metadata associated with the patient,wherein the image object and the one or more data objects are encoded inDigital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format, whereinthe metadata includes personal information about the patient, and timeand location at which the DICOM image file was captured; comparing, by acomputer system, the received metadata with existing metadata associatedwith a plurality of existing patients, wherein the existing metadata isstored in a database; based on a result of the comparing, identifying asubset of the plurality of existing patients as a potential match withthe patient; providing the subset of the plurality of existing patients;requesting a selection of an existing patient from among the subset ofthe plurality of existing patients; receiving input selecting anexisting patient; and providing the medical imaging data including theimage object, one or more data objects related to the image object andthe metadata to be associated with the existing patient.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: based on the result of the comparing,determining that no existing patient in the database is a potentialmatch with the patient, and in response to determining that no existingpatient is a potential match with the patient, generating a new patientrecord using a HL7 ADT A04 patient registration message or electronichealth record system specific web services call; and providing themedical imaging data including the image object, one or more dataobjects related to the image object and the metadata associated with thepatient to be associated with the new patient record.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the received metadata includes a first name, a lastname, a sex, and a date of birth of the patient, and wherein the methodfurther comprises: based on the result of the comparing, determiningthat a first name, a last name, a sex, and a date of birth of anexisting patient in the database matches the first name, the last name,the sex, and the date of birth, respectively, of the patient; and inresponse to determining that the existing patient matches the patient,providing the medical imaging data including the image object, one ormore data object related to the image objects and the metadata to beassociated with the existing patient by generating either an HL7 ADT A24link patient information message or an HL7 ADT A40 merge patientmessage.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database stores aplurality of Electronic Health Records, and wherein comparing thereceived metadata with the existing metadata comprises querying thedatabase with a HL7 ADR A19 patient query message or web services query.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is a Picture Archivingand Communication System (PACS), and wherein comparing the receivedmetadata with the existing metadata comprises querying the PACS with aDICOM C-FIND procedure.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving themedical imaging data from the client device comprises receiving themedical imaging data by executing a computer software applicationremotely from the client device without installing the computer softwareapplication on the client device.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein themedical imaging data is stored on a computer-readable storage mediumconnected to the client device, and wherein executing the computersoftware application remotely from the client device comprises:executing the application to search the computer-readable storage mediumfor medical imaging data; and identifying the medical imaging data inresponse to searching the computer-readable storage medium.
 8. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the client device is connected to a localnetwork accessible to local medical imaging system(s) configured toacquire or store DICOM data, and wherein executing the computer softwareapplication remotely from the client device comprises: presenting anInternet Protocol (IP) address of the medical imaging system, alistening Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port, and a DICOMApplication Entity (AE) title in a display device connected to themedical imaging system, wherein a connection to the medical imagingsystem is formed using the IP address, the TCP port, and the DICOM AEtitle; and receiving the medical imaging data through the connection. 9.The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that a user ofthe client device is an authenticated provider of medical imaging data;and providing the medical imaging data including the image object, oneor more data objects related to the image object, and the metadataassociated with the patient without verifying that the received data ismedical imaging data.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining that a user of the client device is not an authenticatedprovider of medical imaging data; and in response to determining thatthe client device is not an authenticated provider of medical imagingdata, holding a providing of the medical imaging data until the receiveddata has been verified as medical imaging data.
 11. The method of claim10, further comprising: requesting the client device to provideinformation describing the received data and a reason for providing thereceived data; receiving the information from the client device; andverifying the received data as medical imaging data automatically andwithout user intervention based on the information.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising: displaying the information and at least aportion of the received data in a display device; and requestingconfirmation that the received data is medical imaging data.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a request for animaging study overread from the client device; determining that thepatient is an existing patient; and upon determining that the patient isan existing patient, automatically linking the medical imaging data tothe existing patient in response to receiving the request for theimaging study overread.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:determining that the patient is a new patient; and upon determining thatthe patient is a new patient, generating a new patient record for thepatient and automatically linking the medical imaging data to the newpatient in response to receiving the request for the imaging studyoverread.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions executable by data processing apparatus to performoperations comprising: receiving, from a client device, by executing acomputer software application remotely from the client device withoutinstalling the computer software application on the client device,medical imaging data associated with a patient, wherein the medicalimaging data includes an image object, one or more data objects relatedto the image objects, and metadata associated with the patient, whereinthe image object and the one or more data objects are encoded in DigitalImaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format, wherein themetadata includes personal information about the patient, and time andlocation at which the DICOM image file was captured; comparing, by acomputer system, the received metadata with existing metadata associatedwith a plurality of existing patients, wherein the existing metadata isstored in a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) orElectronic Health Record (EHR); based on a result of the comparing,identifying a subset of the plurality of existing patients as apotential match with the patient; providing the subset of the pluralityof existing patients; requesting a selection of an existing patient fromamong the subset of the plurality of existing patients; receiving inputselecting an existing patient; and providing the medical imaging dataincluding the DICOM image file to be associated with the existingpatient.
 16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the medical imaging data isstored on a computer-readable storage medium connected to the clientdevice, and wherein executing the computer software application remotelyfrom the client device comprises: executing the application to searchthe computer-readable storage medium for medical imaging data; andidentifying the medical imaging data in response to searching thecomputer-readable storage medium.
 17. The medium of claim 15, whereinthe client device is connected to a local network accessible to localmedical imaging system(s) configured to acquire or store DICOM data, andwherein executing the computer software application remotely from theclient device comprises: presenting an Internet Protocol (IP) address ofthe medical imaging system, a listening Transmission Control Protocol(TCP) port, and a DICOM Application Entity (AE) title in a displaydevice connected to the medical imaging system, wherein a connection tothe medical imaging system is formed using the IP address, the TCP port,and the DICOM AE title; and receiving the medical imaging data throughthe connection.
 18. A system comprising: data processing apparatus; anda computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by the dataprocessing apparatus to perform operations comprising: receiving, from aclient device, by executing a computer software application remotelyfrom the client device without installing the computer softwareapplication on the client device, medical imaging data associated with apatient, wherein the medical imaging data includes an image object, oneor more data objects related to the image objects, and metadataassociated with the patient, wherein the image object and the one ormore data objects are encoded in Digital Imaging and Communication inMedicine (DICOM) format, wherein the metadata includes personalinformation about the patient, and time and location at which the DICOMimage file was captured; comparing, by a computer system, the receivedmetadata with existing metadata associated with a plurality of existingpatients, wherein the existing metadata is stored in a Picture Archivingand Communication System (PACS); based on a result of the comparing,identifying a subset of the plurality of existing patients as apotential match with the patient; providing the subset of the pluralityof existing patients; requesting a selection of an existing patient fromamong the subset of the plurality of existing patients; receiving inputselecting an existing patient; and providing the medical imaging dataincluding the DICOM image file to be associated with the existingpatient.
 19. The system of claim 18, the operations further comprising:receiving a request for an imaging study overread from the clientdevice; determining that the patient is an existing patient; and upondetermining that the patient is an existing patient, automaticallylinking the medical imaging data to the existing patient in response toreceiving the request for the imaging study overread.
 20. The system ofclaim 19, the operations further comprising: determining that thepatient is a new patient; and upon determining that the patient is a newpatient, generating a new patient record for the patient andautomatically linking the medical imaging data to the new patient inresponse to receiving the request for the imaging study overread.